The Rio Grande Valley saw all kinds of news in 2017.
Whether it was the tragedy of a missing teenager, a hurricane that threatened us or a winter wonderland, there was always something to discuss.
As the calendar turns into a new year, we take a look back at the top stories of the year.
After years of planning, the city broke ground on the $16.7 million convention center this year, with plans to complete construction by September.
As part of a public-private partnership, the city will fund construction of the 44,436- square-foot facility while San Antonio-based BC Lynd Hospitality builds an attached 150-room Hilton Garden Inn on an adjacent two-acre site at Teege Avenue and Brazil Road.
As the city and developer planned the project, BC Lynd wanted to build the hotel at the site in the Harlingen Heights business district, Mayor Chris Boswell said.
Under an agreement, the city and BC Lynd will split profits as well as the cost of funding any deficit.
The agreement calls for BC Lynd or an affiliate to operate and manage the convention center for an initial 10-year term, with renewal options, paying operation and maintenance costs.
To promote and market the convention center, the city will earmark $150,000 during its first two years of operation.
The city purchased the eight-acre site for $2.7 million following negotiations with landowner Ezequiel Reyna and BC Lynd in 2015.
In 2013, the city’s independent appraisal gave the eight-acre site a market value of $1.69 million.
The site was part of an 11.25-acre tract appraised at $1.66 million, according to the Cameron County Appraisal District.
As part of its finance plan, the city is using $9.7 million generated through the Harlingen Community Improvement Board’s sales tax and $3.8 million in hotel occupancy tax revenue to pay off the debt.
The city is also using $1.96 million from property tax revenue generated through Harlingen’s three tax increment financing reinvestment zones for the convention center’s eight-acre site.
The Community Improvement Board is funding the remaining $800,000 of the land purchase.
